Generally, providers welcomed the method but said they experienced problems when sending prescription renewal requests, connecting with mail-order pharmacies and entering data. A lot of confusion came when both practices and pharmacies continued to use phone and fax as additional forms of communication.

“While some challenges may be mitigated as physicians and pharmacies gain more experience, structural issues underlying these challenges likely will need to be addressed directly,” said Senior Manager for Health IT at AHRQ Teresa Zayas-Caban said.

Health care practices and pharmacies likely worked on a lot these issues in 2011. But more first-timers will start using e-prescribing since CMS will start penalizing nonusers this year.